Has anyone tried starting a fire with a SAK magnifying glass on a sunny day?

SgtTowser · **Reply #30 on:** September 16, 2020, 03:11:20 AM

This means there is a big market for Swiss Army aftermarket fire starter replacement for the lens.

Jothra · **Reply #31 on:** September 16, 2020, 05:04:48 AM

Quote from: SgtTowser on September 16, 2020, 03:11:20 AM

This means there is a big market for Swiss Army aftermarket fire starter replacement for the lens.

Why not just buy the Victorinox Explorelizer?

(Definitely real.)

Sos24 · **Reply #32 on:** September 16, 2020, 06:39:03 AM

Quote from: SgtTowser on September 16, 2020, 03:11:20 AM

This means there is a big market for Swiss Army aftermarket fire starter replacement for the lens.

I’ll stick with the FireFly or FireAnt as back-up to my lighter, with the magnifier as a back-up to them.

Aloha · **Reply #33 on:** September 16, 2020, 06:45:44 AM

Good call. Maybe with more patience one of the Vic mag glasses could have worked. My larger lens is fun and something I have with my knife I use for outdoors. I would not want to rely on a mag glass unless it was much more powerful. Lighters then storm matches then ferro rod then

. I like the commercial tinders as well since they take a spark very readily. I was a bit surprised the binocular mag glass didn't light it. I've not had any issues with my ferro rod and tinder.

The test was not one I could spend a lot of time on. Maybe I'll give it a go again.

Jothra · **Reply #34 on:** September 16, 2020, 08:02:32 AM

A friend and I did a bunch of testing. Lint from a clothes dryer filter takes a spark like nobody's business, while petroleum-soaked cotton balls burn readily for quite a long time (fluff them up first!)

PiterM · **Reply #35 on:** September 16, 2020, 01:04:36 PM

Never tried starting a fire with Explorer. I find the loupe very handy just to magnify small objects. SOmeone mentioned splinters, maps, etc. and that's why I like Explorer so much.

For firestarting I put FireFly ferrocerium rod as a substitution for toothpick (which I can whittle in 30 seconds). I put 90 deg spine on the small blade to make it a striker (it's almost invisible, even if you know it's there), And yes it works! I started a fire at least a dozen times with my Explorer this way. Just be sure to support that thin ferrorod and it works great considering size. For sure you can start a fire with it, much faster than with loupe.

It's that green stuff iyou can see here in my Explorer:

Kraken · **Reply #36 on:** September 16, 2020, 02:43:35 PM

Quote from: PiterM on September 16, 2020, 01:04:36 PM

Never tried starting a fire with Explorer. I find the loupe very handy just to magnify small objects. SOmeone mentioned splinters, maps, etc. and that's why I like Explorer so much.

For firestarting I put FireFly ferrocerium rod as a substitution for toothpick (which I can whittle in 30 seconds). I put 90 deg spine on the small blade to make it a striker (it's almost invisible, even if you know it's there), And yes it works! I started a fire at least a dozen times with my Explorer this way. Just be sure to support that thin ferrorod and it works great considering size. For sure you can start a fire with it, much faster than with loupe.

It's that green stuff iyou can see here in my Explorer:

(Image removed from quote.)

PiterM , really like the scales on your Explorer and that belt pouch is awesome!

Reinier · **Reply #37 on:** September 16, 2020, 03:03:59 PM

Quote from: Jothra on September 16, 2020, 05:04:48 AM

Why not just buy the Victorinox Explorelizer?

(Image removed from quote.)
(Definitely real.)

SgtTowser · **Reply #38 on:** September 16, 2020, 03:13:42 PM

Jothra

We are “through the looking glass” here.

Jothra · **Reply #39 on:** September 17, 2020, 01:19:05 AM

I'm still livid that Victorinox discontinued the 111mm Master Lensmastermaster last year.

It must have been a huge seller! #bringbackthelensmastermaster

Aloha · **Reply #40 on:** September 17, 2020, 06:18:00 AM

I'lll sign the petition.

Reinier · **Reply #41 on:** September 17, 2020, 01:26:26 PM

As an amateur astronomer I really like the Swisschamp SCT they just announced:

powernoodle · **Reply #42 on:** September 17, 2020, 01:57:50 PM

Yesterday I tried to ignite some tinder with a SAK magnifier in full sun, and had zero success. Not even close. I think it would probably work if you lived on the sun, though.

SgtTowser · **Reply #43 on:** September 21, 2020, 03:16:43 AM

Jothra and Reiner

Do the ginormous tools on these HYPER-RARE models Count as more than one layer?!!!!!

Jothra · **Reply #44 on:** September 21, 2020, 07:02:46 AM

Quote from: SgtTowser on September 21, 2020, 03:16:43 AM

Do the ginormous tools on these HYPER-RARE models Count as more than one layer?!!!!!

No. The imprecision of the unit "layer" means all same-layer-number SAKs are the same size, even one that's a foot wide and contains a functioning telephoto lens.

Reinier · **Reply #45 on:** September 21, 2020, 10:10:14 AM

Excactly. That's why the Spartan SCT (with 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube) fits perfectly in your pocket. It's the same size as a regular Spartan after all.